Following his sentencing I read the statement from his family, in which they described with dignity the overwhelming grief they have experienced in the aftermath of his death, many of them thinking of leaving Scotland, with a heavy heart.

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Asad Shah’s death came as an immense shock to the local community he served, of which he was a pillar - hundreds turned out the following day to stand in solidarity outside his shop, in memory of a man who had clearly touched so many lives.

I make no bones about it, Shah’s murder was motivated entirely by a perceived religious grievance. Ahmed judged Shah to have blasphemed and made a plan to come to Glasgow to commit a tragic, cold-blooded and brutal crime.

Asad Shah

As someone who was born and raised a Muslim, Tanveer Ahmed’s actions are the highest insult one could commit against the Prophet Muhammad and his teachings. I am no religious expert, but I know that whenever the Prophet Muhammad encountered any verbal or physical assault, he responded with kindness.

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There is one story I remember clearly - that each day as the Prophet Muhammad took the same route to Mosque, an elderly woman would throw rubbish at him. Day after day, she would do the same thing, until one day she did not appear. Rather than continue his day the Prophet Muhammad was moved to ask after her wellbeing, and was told that she was sick, so he went to visit her to wish her a good recovery. Despite her assault of him every day, his actions towards her continued to be motivated by kindness. This is the real example of Muhammad not the example of Tanveer Ahmed.

However, this attack must serve as a wake up call - we cannot ignore that there is a minority of people who believe that perceived blasphemy warrants a violent response.

When the Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer was murdered in 2011 for his outspoken opposition to blasphemy laws and persecution of religious minorities, this minority praised his killer. Tanveer Ahmed was a member of this minority.

In the face of such extreme values it is absolutely necessary that we have an honest conversation about the values of Islam - that the many credible, moderate Muslims encourage our greatest thinkers, speakers and activists to stand up and publically counter the views held by people like Tanveer Ahmed and the minority he represents.

People from across Glasgow stood in solidarity following Asad Shah's tragic death (Image: John Linton/PA Wire)

In response to the sentencing of Asad Shah’s killer this week, Justice Secretary Michael Matheson this week announced plans to review the legislation relating to religiously aggravated offences. While preparing the case for prosecution of Tanveer Ahmed, Crown Counsel reached the conclusion that the evidence did not statutorily allow for his crime to be considered to be religiously aggravated - flying in the face of what is very apparent to everyone who has followed the case.

Finally, in my last column I addressed what I believe our response should be to the extremist attacks across Europe - to stand together in solidarity and defiance of those who seek to divide us. This attack on Asad Shah and his community is no different - just as we stood shoulder to shoulder outside his shop on Minard Road on the day following his murder, we must now continue to demonstrate our unity as one nation with many cultures, faiths and beliefs.